Enjoying the company of family and friends

There are four lovely themes here:

            Enjoyment         Companionship              Family              Friendship

Let's start sharing....

Share time

Time is precious - and there are loads of inexpensive ways to enjoy time shared with family and friends. If you are on your own, why not volunteer for a charity and spend the time with others?

Share friendliness

A little time and effort shows people that you care...

Share expectations

Tensions often mount when we want everything to be perfect - only we all have different ideas of perfection!

To avoid arguments, pause to reflect that the year may come when you'll no longer all be together. Why not get people to make and share lists of what matters most to them?

What do you expect from the office and New Year parties? You won't want to end up an embarrassing talking point, so line your stomach before the drinking starts, don't over indulge, then go on - enjoy.

Share the work

Preparations are part of the fun. Share out the tasks, the responsibilities, trust others to do a good job (even if they don't do it your way). Suggestions:

Teenagers like to help too! They can handle nearly all the above...

Share experiences

Simple pleasures are the best!  Lots of suggestions here - but don't stress thinking you have to do them all...

Share nature

Enjoy winter's beauty, its lovely cold frostiness - and share it. What's near you?

            Woods              River                 Beach               Countryside        Parks

Loads of possibilities, e.g:

• Gathering cones, logs, holly, mistletoe to decorate the house
  
  
• Feeding the ducks, hide and seek
  
  
• Scratch football (and/or going to a match)
  
  
• Walking the dog, sharing binoculars

Come back happy, relaxed, hungry...

Share indoors

Time to get cosy - or let your hair down. Remember when Grandad (or your mate) made a fool of himself playing that silly game, and the laughter it caused!  Games are a brilliant way to bridge generation gaps. Turn off the TV, record what you don't want to miss, and enjoy...

• Food and drink: from hilarious family meals to grown-up drinks
• Log fires, candles
• Roasting chestnuts/marshmallows
• Games, quizzes, puzzles, group jigsaw
• A sing-song, and parties!

For a break from your own indoors, go and meet friends in the pub!
And if you have the chance, there's no thrill that can beat an expedition to the panto (however young you are...)

Self-successful thinking

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination." – John Lennon

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." – Proverb

"You may be one person in this world, but to one person you may be the world." - Anon

Last word

Whether you've too much or too little to do, don't forget you!

Give yourself some treats: a quiet night in, curling up with a book, catching up with a hobby, relaxing in the bath. You don't have to force yourself to the sales, or to make New Year Resolutions. Say no sometimes - it can be quite liberating.

Next time we'll be thinking about the magic of believing in yourself.

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter - and if you would like more information about my new workshop please contact me. In the meantime, my best wishes to you for a happy and wonderful season.